Exploring the Importance of Safety and Aurora Hunting

Explore the importance of safety and Aurora hunting. A topic we often over look, in our excitement of seeing Auroras. It is something essential to think about. When accidents and problems arise around dark sky activities, it will lead to discussions by communities. National Parks, State Parks, and Private have to evaluate whether risks of someone getting injured are too great. The community as a whole needs to have a good and safe reputation. This really does affect everyone in the long run.

Though having this discussion. Sharing positive and negative experiences we have. We can further develop guideline to improve our community. We can improve safety and avoid situations that make uncomfortable in the field. By sharing the results of this with News Agencies, Government, Tourist Agencies, and on Social Media we can improve awareness. The end result of that, will help avoid conflicts, gain us a positive reputation and will make us welcomed. This will help us develop new dark sky areas in the future.

People get over excited about auroras, and safety becomes the furthest thing from their minds. Many new to the sport of aurora hunting, don’t think about the dangers. We have had people killed while out Aurora hunting or star gazing, in avoidable accidents. https://www.fox2detroit.com/news/michigan-stargazers-victims-of-hit-and-run-1-dead. This affects all of us. If parks don’t think it’s safe to have too many people out at night, they will close areas to us.

I am going to post some guidelines here. I am requesting that we start this conversation. That we include sharing this with news agencies, Parks, tourist centers. This way we raise awareness of how we should behave in the dark. Especially for people who have never seen Northern Lights. It will help avoid problems. Assuring that communities and parks always stay open to us.

Safety and tips for Aurora Hunting

1.     Your eyes will take several minutes to adjust to the darkness. Turn off your car lights as soon as you park. Wait a few minutes before venturing away from your car to give your eyes time to adjust. Use this time to run your checklist. Ensure you have everything you need with you. Set your camera settings. Make sure your car is secured.

2.     Set your focus before walking out to the location. This way, you can use a flashlight without disturbing others who may be shooting. Double-check your focus by taking a photo. Enlarge the image on the back of your camera. This ensures the stars are tack sharp. You can take a small piece of masking tape. Place it on the side of your lens to avoid losing your focus.

3.     Set your white balance, shutter speed, f-stop, and ISO before leaving your car. This way, you can make minor adjustments in the field without struggling. A shutter speed of 20 to 30 seconds, the lowest f-stop possible (f1.4, f2.8, or f3.5), and an ISO of 1600 are good starting points. If you need more light, raise your ISO. If you find your stars are comma shaped, reduce your shutter speed.

4.     Use a red light when walking to avoid disturbing your night vision. Use a small pen flashlight (can be found at dollar stores) around other people. Normal flashlight light is more white balanced. It can be corrected in editing. Red light is nearly impossible to fix. Being considerate of other photographers, earns you a warm welcome.

5.     Keep all flashlights and headlamps pointed at the ground while walking. Avoid shining a flashlight at someone or at their face because you disturb their photography and blind them. Aim your light away from anyone you pass to avoid disturbing their night vision or photography. Make sure you greet them as you pass, so they are fully aware you are their.

6.    Please note the direction of the camera lenses. Take the time to watch what they are shooting. Walk behind them so you don’t disturb their photos.

7.     Be aware of your surroundings. If you note other photographers, ask if they mind if you set up near them. Most Aurora Hunters are really friendly. Many will welcome other photographers or newbies. Some photographers are uneasy with people they don’t know near them. Please Be Respectful. Take care not to put your camera in their shot as it will ruin their shot. Occasionally, photographers welcome people in their shot at a distance because it adds interest.

8.     If you find you need to use your flashlight and you are near other people. Call out a warning “I need to turn on my flashlight”, count to 30 before turning on your light. This avoids you ruining other peoples images with your unwanted light.

9.     When using a Camera, we recommend learning the buttons and functions on the camera. This way you can find them by touch. This limits flashlight usage that bother other people. Once you hit the buttons your LCD screen should allow you to adjust settings without need of external flashlight.

10. If you have come with a group of people. Don’t leave your wingman. Everyone should leave at the same time. This way if a car doesn’t start or someone is stuck help is available.

11. This is the most important rule of thumb. Always park on the side of Road you are going to. Never cross the road in the dark if you can help it.

12 Never park on both side of the road when at a busy location. This creates a bottle neck in traffic. If someone were to step out into oncoming traffic, an approaching car could not have room to avoid them. This becomes especially dangerous when cars are on both sides of the road.

13. Follow the rules of the National Park, State Park or Local Park rules for where you are at. Park in designated parking spaces. We do have lot of handicapped people who enjoy seeing the lights. Please don’t make it unsafe for them by taking a handicap parking space if you don’t need it. Obey, signs that tell you areas are closed, they are rules not suggestions. Pick up trash you find, even if it is not yours. Carry a small bucket in your car all the time. This way, if you find an unattended campfire, you can put it out. Most of all, These parks are our homes, take the responsibility to care for them. We become welcomed by parks when we keep the park safer in the dark. It increases the chances more places will become open to us and less places will get closed due to issues.

14. Wear light color clothing, safety vests, clip on reflectors or flashlights if you are going to be by a road. This makes you visible to oncoming traffic and will save you from being hit. A really good tip is to look at places like Menard’s for safety vests with pockets. This provides a convenient place to put extra lenses, keys, flashlights, and cell phones while remaining visible. These vests can be worn in summer or slip over a coat in the winter.

15. Obey speed limits. When we have really large Aurora Events, and it is highly televised. We get a lot of people crowding into limited spaces. You find people parked on road sides in strange places. Some photographers maybe setting up a shot using the road in the composition of their photo. It is best to slow down. Assume that there are people out there. They do not think about safety around the road. You don’t want to be that person that hits them. It ruins everyone’s life and leaves you with a horrible memory that will haunt you.

16. Respect private property. Not all beaches are public property. Often in front of houses is not open to public and you should respect that. Like wise not all parks or lighthouses are open. Some like Big Sable Lighthouse, need permits to shoot at that location. I have been made aware that some groups encourage breaking those rules. I am going to point out, that this leads to problems. The result will give all Aurora Hunters a bad reputation. Leading to all of us, being unwelcome.

Thank you for reading this, Share it often and Lets bring everyone home safely! Please check out our other articles https://northamericanartproducts.com/how-different-cultures-viewed-auroras/